Chapter 82: Kuzunoha's Viewpoint: Daffodil Of The Black

"Ah, I see." Now that I glimpse the connection between the two Narcissus, I cast off my mask and act as I usually do. "Then I assume that you have no complication with my presence, now that we have assured one another"

Unlike the golden figure that Narcissus currently was outside of this realm, who was sly, charismatic, domineering, and conclusive—this Narcissus felt different.

"Hmm, I still have grudges," she said while pondering. "So don't do anything that arouses my anger and discomfort. I don't want a useful pawn of mine to have her soul die out and leave an empty husk because of carelessness."

She saw me as a pawn!? How revolting! "Referring each of you as a single entity feels wrong to me. Clearly, you possess your own train of thoughts and personality than the Narcissus outside. Care to hear a single suggestion of mine?"

"Go on."

"How about I refer to you as Daffodil instead?" I politely suggested. "It is another name for narcissus flower, and I think it can clear the confusion in referral, while also showing that the two of you are just two sides of the same coin."

The entity before me caressed the chin part of her void-shaped face before excitedly pointing at me. "I like it! That is so clever!"

"I'm glad that you're liking the suggestion, darling," I bowed slightly.

"So tell me, what do you want to know?" Daffodil extended her hand, still sluggishly leaning to her own chair. "You must be itching for knowledge, Kuzunoha. After all, I can feel that curiosity is oozing from your skull like there is no tomorrow~!"

She seemed to be an easy entity to please. At the same time, she also seemed like an easy entity to anger.

And the most important of them all, was the fact that she appeared to be holding more knowledge than any beings I met in the past.

"I want to savor our interaction, so I'll take my time and start with simple questions that gradually lead to more complex ones," I said, flashing a friendly smile. I wanted her to see that I was genuinely interested in forging a connection for future encounters. "With that in mind, I hope to cultivate a good relationship with both Narcissus and yourself as time unfolds."

"That's a solid approach," Daffodil replied nonchalantly. "I, too, plan to leverage our relationship to my advantage, so be prepared to indulge my whims when I'm not in the mood to cooperate."

"I'll do my utmost to oblige, then~" I giggled, finding amusement in our shared understanding. "Should I draft a separate contract to formalize our arrangement?"

"No need for that. I doubt your arcane contract would hold sway over a being like me," Daffodil said casually, as if she possessed a deeper understanding of the arcane than Narcissus. "Now, go ahead—ask your first question of the day. I'm willing to answer anything, as long as it aligns with my interests."

"What kind of food do you like?" I asked, starting with something simple per my statement.

"Oh my, you weren't kidding when you said you'd start with an easy question."

"You mentioned that you see and feel everything Narcissus experiences. Maybe I can satisfy your curiosity by having Narcissus try different kinds of food."

She let out a soft, amused chuckle. "You make it sound as if Narcissus and I are completely separate entities. But trust me, we're much more in sync than that. Pleasing Narcissus is essentially the same as pleasing me."

Her bodily gesture softened as she continued. "Honestly, I'm not too particular about what Narcissus eats. But if I had my way, I'd prefer fine dining—something with an elegant atmosphere, like a meal in a high-end restaurant. There's something about the ambiance that makes the experience... exquisite~"

"Dear me, I didn't expect that Narcissus would have such a refined palate."

"Narcissus is actually quite stubborn at feeding herself with crap when things aren't as relaxed." Daffodil appeared to be sighing. "It's like we prefer it, but it's hard to consume good consumables when you are burdened with a lot of things."

"I will try my best to ensure that Narcissus is comfortable enough before treating her with an exquisite dining experience," I promised wholeheartedly.

"I can't wait for that time to come then~"

I continued asking her mundane questions, hoping to get a clearer sense of her personality—and, by extension, Narcissus' as well.

We talked about her favorite time of day, the kinds of people she enjoyed interacting with, and other seemingly trivial topics.

Before I realized it, three hours had passed in the real world.

"I think it's time for me to take my leave," I said, my voice soft but firm, preparing for the severance between my consciousness and this realm. "As much as I've enjoyed our conversation, I must return to the outside world. Narcissus will likely need me soon."

Daffodil leaned forward slightly, her faceless void tilting again, as if pondering my words. Her presence, once so overwhelming, now felt more subdued, more familiar. "Leaving so soon? I was just starting to enjoy our little banter." Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of genuine disappointment there, a subtle shift in the way her posture relaxed.

"Then again, you did promise Narcissus to report everything you find in this little experiment of yours. I guess I can amuse myself through your recap later."

I smiled, bowing my head slightly. "You know we'll meet again, Daffodil. This won't be the last time I enter this place. Besides, I suspect you'll be seeing much more of me, whether you're ready or not~"

Daffodil chuckled, her laughter a strange, musical sound that reverberated through the warped space around us. "Oh, I certainly hope so. Our conversations are... refreshing, in a way. You're not like the others who have wandered into this realm—so full of pride or fear. You're different.

I look forward to your next visit, Kuzunoha."

Was she implying that I'm not the first one to meet her here?

I guess that should be the theme of my questions for the next time.

"Likewise." I stood, brushing off my robes as the weight of the real world began to settle back into my bones. The colors and shapes around me began to blur, the abstract concepts shifting out of focus as reality asserted itself. "Until next time, Daffodil."

"Don't keep me waiting for too long, now," she said playfully, folding her hands once more beneath her featureless face. "I'll be impatient for our next... session."

With a final nod, I allowed myself to be pulled back, the soul realm slipping away like a fading dream. The chaotic madness, the impossible shapes and sounds, all dissolved into a distant memory as I felt my consciousness re-anchor itself in the real world.

I opened my eyes, and the familiar sights and sounds of the real world washed over me once again. The air was dense but comforting.

I was back. Back in the world of the living—of the tangible, the comprehensible. The soul realm felt like a distant echo, but Daffodil's presence lingered in my mind, a reminder of the strange entity I had just conversed with.

"Hmm, the blood on my glass has tasted bad." I sighed from the loss of my precious delicacy. "Oh well. It is a small price to pay for drinking while working."

I stood up from my seat inside the dining room of the wooden cabin. Neither Narcissus and Verina were here.

They were probably in the workshop by now, continuing whatever creation that Narcissus came up with her creativity.

"Urgh, my rear is still sore as ever." I almost cursed as my lower half felt like hell since that one incident. "Actually, my whole body is sore all over. Narcissus, that brute. Who would have thought that the effect of the failed hex would last for hours for her case?"

There was so much more to uncover—about Narcissus, about Daffodil, about the strange connection between them. And I had a feeling that this was only the beginning.

For now, though, I would savor the moment. The real world had its own challenges, and I needed to be ready for whatever came next.

But soon enough, I would return to the soul realm. And when I did, Daffodil would be waiting.

And so would I.

"Wait, if Daffodil experienced everything, then doesn't that mean she also experienced the time when I failed my hex?" Read the full story at m-vl-em,pyr

It was an interesting question to ponder. seaʀᴄh thё nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Regardless, I can't wait to interact with both of them more.